New Freshwater Shrimp Species Found in Gomti River

Key facts

• A new freshwater shrimp species, Caridina sharmai, was discovered in the Gomti River near Lucknow.
• The species was identified during surveys conducted between 2023 and 2024 by researchers from BSNV PG College, University of Lucknow, and Navyug Kanya P.G. College.
• Caridina sharmai measures 15 to 24 millimetres in length and has a short, knife-shaped rostrum with 15-22 upper teeth and 4-9 lower teeth.
• Unlike related species, this shrimp lacks a median spine on its tail and has a deep hollow on the joints of its front legs, which have long brush-like hairs for scraping algae.
• The shrimp appears dark brown or black with yellowish-grey stripes in the wild but becomes transparent in aquariums.
• The species is named in honour of Professor U. D. Sharma, a retired head of Zoology at the University of Lucknow, for his contributions to carcinology in northern India.
• The discovery highlights the undiscovered biodiversity of the Gomti River and supports development of conservation strategies.